Vertically adjustable table



Nov. 16, 1965 D. O.-HAUGHEY 3,217,672

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TABLE Filed June 1, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY 1965 D. o. HAUGHEY VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TABLE v 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1, 1964 ATTORNEY Nov. 16, 1965 D. o. HAUGHEY VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 1, 1964 INVENTOR ATTORNEY N 1965 D. o. HAUGHEY VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 1, 1964 INVENTOR. mm id BY Tia/FAQ? Y Nov. 16, 1965 D. o. HAUGHEY 3,217,672

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TABLE Filed June 1, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 2

United States Ratent 3,217,672 VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TABLE Donald 0. Haughey, Box 52, Union City, Mich. Filed June 1, 1964, Ser. No. 373,131 18 Claims. (Cl. 108-146) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending patent application Ser. No. 259,160, filed Feb. 18, 1963, now abandoned.

The present invention relates broadly to tables, and in its more specific phases to hollow pedestal-type adjustable height tables.

While some tables have been proposed with a pair of folding legs, each of which can be individually varied in length a few inches, and even tables having a large telescoping pedestal carrying a large compression spring inside of same for supporting the upper portion of the table, and with the pedestal anchorable at various positions by means of an external ratchet, nevertheless there has been an unsatisfied demand for easily adjustable tables for schools having children of different heights and ages who need easily adjustable tables for school use, and especially such tables for handicapped children including the blind. In fact, it was due to failure to find anywhere on the open market adjustable height tables, thoroughly satisfactory for such children, which led to the conception and development of the present invention.

Accordingly, among the objects of the present invention is the provision of an easily adjustable height tubular pedestal table particularly adaptable for use by children of various heights.

Another object of this invention is to provide a telescoping pedestal table with means for holding the top and bottom portions of the table fixed against relative rotation while assembled in its various adjusted positions.

Another object is to provide an adjustable height single pedestal table wherein the adjustable height supporting mechanism is entirely within the pedestal and operable by a means extending out of the pedestal substantially at the top of same.

A further object is to provide a double latching means inside of the inner tubular member and which may be either of slidable form or pivotally anchored to same adjacent its bottom, and a cooperating double latch receiving means which may be a substantially flush portion of the outer tubular member or fixedly anchored to the opposite sides of the inner face of the lower portion of same.

A further object is to provide a substantially V-shaped table top and matching type base, adjustable single pedestal table, or desk, permitting a handicapped child to be seated at the hollow side of the table and have ample table top area to work on for most purposes, and at desired elevation, without the child doing more than turning on its seat from side to side of the table top to take advantage of substantially the whole area of the table top.

A further object is to provide an adjustable height single pedestal table or desk with a substantially rectangular pedestal of telescoping type wherein the inner telescoping member carries on its lower portion a double oppositely acting sliding latch assembly and said outer telescoping member has means adapted to be engaged by said latch assembly for supporting said inner telescoping member in various elevated positions.

A still further object is to provide an adjustable height single pedestal table or desk, with the inner tubular member of the pedestal being split or slotted on opposite sides of its lower end to slidably fit inwardly extending perforated face channels fixedly anchored to the inner face of the outer tubular member in position to fit the slots of the inner tubular member and hold same against rotation relative to said outer tubular member.

3,217,672 Patented Nov. 16, 1965 A still further object is to provide a bracing means on opposite sides of a pair of slots at the lower end of the inner tubular member of a telescoping pedestal for a table, and which bracing means carries a scissor shaped latching means with a spring for projecting the lower ends of said scissor shaped means outward for latching with inwardly projecting channel means having openings at suitably spaced intervals for engagement with said latching means for adjusting the length of said pedestal, there preferably being a flexible means connected to the upper ends of said scissor shaped latching means and extending out of the top of said pedestal in position to be actuated so as to operate said latching means.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends the invention, then, consists of the table means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but several of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a table embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational full width end view of the table as seen along line IIII of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing by means of dashed lines various elevations which can be taken by the table top.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the table of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view as taken along line IV-IV of FIGURE 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view as seen along line VV of FIGURE 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken at right angles to the section of FIGURE 5, and as seen along line VIVI of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view as taken along line VIIVII of FIGURE 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view as taken along line VIII-VIII of FIGURE 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary enlarged and partially sectioned view of a modified form of the pedestal of the present invention.

FIGURE 10 is a partially sectioned view as taken along the line XX of FIGURE 9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectional view as taken along line XI-XI of FIGURE 10, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 12 is a partially sectioned view as taken along line XIIXII of FIGURE 10, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the latching mechanism in partially latched position as taken along line XIIIXIII of FIGURE 9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as taken along line XIV-XIV of FIGURE 13, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 13 but with the latch members in disengaged position.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be noted that the table 1 has a top 2 and a base 3 joined by a pedestal 4 of telescoping type having an outer tubular member 5 and an inner tubular member 6. The table top 2 may be finished in any conventional manner, and it is intended that construction shown be considered as diagrammatically illustrating same. The edges of the top likewise may be finished in any desired manner, but in preferred construction a metal or relatively tough and firm plastic strip 7 is used to protect the edge of the table top from being scarred in use, recognizing that these tables are particularly designed for school use where sturdiness as-well as adjustability for use by different size and age children is involved.

The pedestal 4 is mounted on base 3 as shown in FIG- URES 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, wherein it will be noted that on the under face of base, FIGURE 3, there is a reinforcing plate 8, and if desired same may be conventionally anchored'in place as by being spot welded, brazed, or the like to hold it in place, depending upon what kind of material is used in forming base 3. Inside of outer tubular member 5 of pedestal 4, and adjacent the lower end of same, is a conventionally fastened plate member 9, FIGURES 4, 5 and 6. This plate member 9 is drilled and threaded at 10 adjacent the wall of outer tubular member 5 for reception of cap screws 11, and likewise reinforcing plate 8 and base 3 are drilled in alinement with saiddrilled and threaded openings 10 to cooperate in fastening said base 3 to said pedestal 4. The rectangular section pedestal shown in FIGURES 9 to 15, inclusive, is preferably anchored to base 3 in like manner and the showing in FIGURES S and 6 is intended to be considered as diagrammatically illustrating the mounting of various forms of pedestals to base 3.

Inner tubular member 6, FIGURES 7 and 8, is preferably provided with an enlarged top cap 12 which, in the manner of a spider, can be anchored in place on same in any fixed manner as by welding, brazing, set screws, or the like (not shown), so that the top 2 and base 3 can be kept alined as shown in FIGURES l and 3. Where the table top 2 is of wood, or the like, the cap 12 may be fastened to same with wood screws":13 ,or any other suitable and conventional means. '5

With the outer tubular member 5 anchored to base 3 as described above, and likewise with the inner tubular member 6 anchored to the top 2 through cap 12 and screws 13, the holding of top 2 and base 3 in their fixed relative position, as shown, only requires that the outer tubular member 5 and inner tubular member 6 be made slidable endwise relative to each other while held against relative rotation. This may be accomplished in many ways such as by using a rectangular section telescoping pedestal, FIGURES 9 to 15, inclusive, and where the pedestal is of round section, a preferred one is by providing the outer tubular member 5, FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, with oppositely disposed, inwardly extending, channels 14 having latch engaging openings 15, said channels 14 being welded, brazed, or otherwise anchored in the position shown to said tubular member 5. The inner tubular member 6, on' the other hand, is provided with longitudinal slits 16, FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, which closely but slid ably receive said channels 14 which are on the inside face of outer tubular member 5. It is thus to be seen that tubular members 5 and 6 may be moved endwise relative to each other but not rotatively relative to each other. It is also to be noted that for ease of relocating the table the base 3 is preferably provided with castors 17, FIG- URE 3, which, if desired, may be of the sliding castor type.

The adjustment of pedestal, FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, in an endwise direction involves a special latching mechanism. Inner tubular member 6, adjacent its lower end and at opposite side edges of longitudinal slits 16 is provided with a pair of support members, such as plates 18 which are substantially parallel to each other. Near the outer side edges of these plates 18 there are a pair of cross pins 19 which stabilize the slit lower end of inner tubular member 6 against spreading and serve as a back stop for a latching mechanism 20 which will now be described.

Latching mechanism 20, as shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, utilizes a pivot pin 21, which is preferably in the form of a bolt, as shown, for ease of assembly. This pivot pin extends diametrically of inner tubular member 6 through the pair of plates 18 and normally above cross pins 19. To simplify installation of pivot pin 21, inner tubular member 6 is preferably provided with an opening 22, FIGURE 6, in alinement with pivot pin 21 so that same may pass through opening 22 and then through suitable openings 23 in plates 18. Mounted on pivot pin 21 are a pair of latch members 24, the lower ends of which are adapted to engage openings 15 in channels 14 as typically shown in FIGURE 5. The upper ends of latch members 24 are provided with openings in conventional manner, although a preferred construction involves placing loop members 25 on the upper ends of latch mem bers 24, by forging, welding, brazing, or the like. Operation of the latch members 24 can be accomplished in various ways, and preferably by means of operating cable 26 which is conventionally connected to loop members 25 of the latch members 24 such as by means of links 27, FIGURE 5. Latch members 24 are resiliently held in latching position to operably engage openings 15 in channels 14, and a preferred means for accomplishing this is a coiled spring 28. This spring provides latching tension on latch members 24 while permitting inner tubular member 6 to be raised without difficulty but being in position to latch and stop downward movement of said inner tubular member. Latch spacing washers 35 may be used, if desired, to take up the slack between latches 24 and the sides of support members 18, as shown in FIGURE 6.

The operation of latching mechanism 20 is controlled through latch operating cable 26 which extends up through inner tubular member 6 to a pulley or the like 29, FIG- URES 7 and 8, and then out through opening 30 in the side of cap 12 to a latch operator 31, which may be installed at any convenient location, normally on the under face of top 2. One convenient form of latch operator consists of an angle section handle member 32 pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 33 and spaced from the under side of table top 2 by means of a washer 34. Cable 26 is fastened to handle'member 32 adjacent the end of same remote from pivot pin 33 so that by pulling on handle member 32, the cable 26 will actuate latch members 24 to disengage same from the latch engaging openings 15 in channels 14, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 5.

To operate the present invention and adjust the table to desired operating height, a convenient procedure when utilizing either the round section pedestal of FIGURES 4,

5 and 6, or the rectangular section pedestal of FIGURES 9, 10, 11 and 12 is to stand alongside the hollow portion of the table top, and with one hand grasping the side of the table, the other hand grips the handle member 32, FIGURES 7 and 8, and by moving same to the dotted position While lifting slightly on the table top, unlatching is readily accomplished. The table top can then be moved to desired elevation and latched substantially at that point. In the test model the latching openings 15 in channel 14- were spaced two inches apart, 'although different spacing could be used if desired. Also in that model the lowest position of the table top was twenty inches from the floor. and the highest was thirty inches,,although the table obviously is not limited to those elevations. Since blind children cannot see where the table is adjusted for height, a satisfactory adjusting procedure is to first adjust the table to the height best suited to that child and then tell him what it is, for instance twenty-four inches high. Then the blind child, unless he is very small, can in the future adjust a table to its own twenty-four inch height. by merely unlatching the table latching mechanism 20 and lowering the table top to its lowermost-position. -It is. then. only as matter of taking hold of the table top and raising same while counting the clicks of the latching mechanism with the second click being the pedestal latching position for a twenty-four inch height table or desk where the two inch spacing, as described above, is used.

Now referring more particularly to FIGURES 9 to 15, inclusive, which show a modified form of the tubular pedestal assembly, it will be noted that the pedestal 4a is of substantially rectangular cross section. This construction provides a very simple way to make the inner tubular member 6a non-rotatable relative to outer tubular member 5a without interfering with the telescopability of the two relative to each other. To minimize friction and at the same time permit moderate variations of tube sizes of different producers to be utilized, spacers 36 may be fixedly mounted on the inner face of the upper end of outer tubular member 5a, and spacers 37 on the outer face of inner tubular member 6a adjacent the lower end of same. These spacers, as shown in FIGURE 11, are located in offset positions to avoid interference when the tubular members are assembled or disassembled as the case may be.

A latch assembly 38, FIGURE 10, is mounted on the lower end of inner tubular member 6a which is preferably provided with notches 39 to receive and stabilize the position of latch assembly 38. This latch assembly has a body member 40 which extends all the way across the lower end of inner tubular member 6a and is provided with ears 41 which fit into notches 39 of same, and is anchored in place by means of screws 42, FIGURE 9.

The latch body member 40 is provided with a longitudin-al bore 43, FIGURES 13, 14 and 15, for left and right latch bolts 44 and 45, and the inner tubular member 6a is correspondingly provided with alined bores 46 and 47 so that the outer ends of the corresponding latch bolts 44 and 45 can freely extend therethrough. The outer ends of these latch bolts preferably taper inward at the upper portion of same as shown in FIGURES 10, 13 and 15, to permit free upward sliding of inner tubular member 6a "and retracting of said latch bolts to facilitate adjustment of the table height as will be hereinafter explained. Outer tubular member 5a is provided on opposite sides with alined openings 48, preferably at uniform spacings, for latching engagement of latch bolts 44 and 45 as shown in FIGURE 10.

Left and right latch bolts 44 and 45 are provided on their under face with narrow longitudinal slots 49 and 50, respectively, FIGURES 13 and 15. Closely but slida bly fitting these slots 49 and 50 are the upper ends or tips of screws 51 and 52 which threadedly engage corresponding openings 53 and 54 in latch body 41 with such slots and screws guiding latch bolts 44 and 45 in their endwise movements. If desired, a third screw 55 threadedly engaging opening 56 in latch body member 40 may be used as shown in FIGURE 15 so that its upper end or tip acts as a stop for the adjacent ends of latch bolts 44 and 45 I when they are fully retracted.

The left latch bolt 44, FIGURE 13, is provided with a counterbore 57 -for the reception of one end of compression spring 58 while the adjacent end of right latch bolt 45 is likewise provided with an alined counterbore 59 for the reception of the other end of said spring. Compression spring 58 thus normally exerts outwardly directed latching force on the latch bolts. Right latch bolt 45 is also provided with a longitudinal slot 60 in its upper portion at the end having said counterbore 59, and in that slot 60 is rotatably mounted a small pulley 61 on pivot pin 62. Left latch bolt 44 has a small longitudinally drilled passageway 63 which opens into counterbore 57 preferably in alinement with the lower edge of pulley 61. Adjacent the bottom end of drilled passageway 63 there is a sidewise drilled and threaded opening 64, FIGURE 14, with a recessed screw 65 in same.

Latch body member 40 is provided with a slot 66 in line with slot 60 in the top of right latch bolt 45 so that latch 6 operating cable 26a can pass through alined slots 60 and 66 and thence lengthwise through compression spring 58 and drilled passageway 63 in latch bolt 44 to the end of said passageway 63 where it is clamped by means of recessed screw 65. It is thus to be seen that upward pulling of latch operating cable 26a, FIGURES 13 and 15, will retract left and right latch bolts 44 and 45, while relaxing'said pulling pressure will allow compression spring 58 to exert outward latching force on left and right latch bolts 44 and 45. Latch operating cable 26d operates in identically the same way as latch operating cable 26, and the showing in FIGURES 7 and 8 is to be considered as diagrammatically illustrating the actuation of either cable 26 or 26a.

To adjust the table 1 utilizing the pedestal 4a. of FIG- URES 9 to 15, inclusive, if the height of the cable top 2 is to be increased, it is only necessary to lift up on table top 2. In doing this the tapered end faces of left and right latch bolts 44 and 45 will contact the upper edge of openings 48 in outer tubular member 5a and retract and remain retracted until they are once more over a pair of opposite openings 48 into which they will automatically latch. On the other hand, if the table top is to .be lowered, it is only necessary to exert an upward pull on latch operating cable 26a to retract the latch bolts 44 and 45 which will release inner tubular member 6a so that same with table top 2 can be lowered as desired and upon releasing the upward pull on latch operating cable 26a, the latch bolts can again be engaged with openings 48 to hold the table top 2 in its readjusted position.

While only two forms of the present invention have been shown and described, still other forms will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it will be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the spirit and scope of the invention.

In addition, while various directional terms such as upper, lower, top, bottom, lowest, highest, and the like have been employed in the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that such terms have been utilized merely to facilitate description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in the positions as illustrated, and such terms and their derivatives are not to be taken in a manner so as to limit the invention.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the article and combinations herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A table comprising a top, a base, and a pedestal connecting said top to said base, said pedestal being of telescopic construction with inner and outer tubular members, one of said tubular members being anchored in fixed position to said top and the other of said tubular members being anchored in fixed position to said base, a latch means mounted on and within the lower portion of said inner tubular member, inwardly projecting means on the inner surface of and wholly within said outer tubular member in position to be engaged by said latch means of said inner tubular member for holding said table top in various elevated positions as well as rotatably fixed relative to said base, means for normally holding said latch means latched with said inwardly projecting means of said outer tubular member, and means extending through the upper portion of said inner tubular member for releasably actuating said latch means.

2. A table comprising a top, a base, and a pedestal connecting said top to said base, said pedestal being of close fitting but freely slidable telescopic construction with inner and outer tubular members, means joining one end of said outer tubular member to said base, means joining one end of said inner tubular member to said table top, a latching means, means mounting said latching means on and within the lower portion of said inner tubular member, inwardly projecting latch engageable means on opposite sides of the inner surface of and wholly within said outer tubular member, said inner tubular member being slotted from its lower end to receive and closely but slidably fit said inwardly projecting means of said outer tubular member, which is in position to be engaged by said latching means of said inner tubular member for holding said table top in various elevated positions, means for normally holding said latching means in latching engagement with said inwardly projecting means of said outer tubular member of said assembled pedestal, and means operatively connected to said latching means and extending through the upper portion of said inner tubular member for releasably actuating said latching means.

3. A table as set forth in claim 2, wherein said latching means has a fixed pivot carried by said inner tubular member, a pair of latch members independently mounted on said fixed pivot with the lower end of one of said latch members engaging one said inwardly projecting means of said outer tubular member and the lower end of the other of said latch members engaging the other of said inwardly projecting means of said outer tubular member, the pivot point of said latch members being spaced a substantial distance from the opposite ends of each of said latch members, and said latch members having means on their upper ends for engagement with said latch a-ctuating means.

4. A table as set forth in claim 2, wherein said inwardly projecting latch engageable means on the opposite sides of the inner surface of and wholly within said outer tubular member is in the form of outwardly facing channel members having a web and side flanges and with the edges of said flanges anchored against the inner surface of said outer tubular member in conventional manner, said channel members having symmetrically located latch engageable means on their flange joining web.

5. A table as set forth in claim 3, wherein said inwardly projecting latch engageable means on the opposite sides of the inner surface of and Wholly within said outer tubular member is in the form of outwardly facing channel members having a web and side flanges and with the edges of said flanges anchored against the inner surface of said outer tubular member in conventional manner, said channel members having symmetrically located latch engageable means on the flange joining web.

6. A table as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means for mounting said latching means on and within the lower portion of said inner tubular member is in the form of a pair of substantially parallel, spaced apart plates conventionally anchored to said inner tubular member, one on each side of said slots, a pair of pins joining said plates but spaced inward from said latch engaging means of said outer tubular member, a pivot pin carried by said plates and on which said latching means is pivotally mounted, and resilient means for normally holding said latching means in engagement with said inwardly projecting means of said outer tubular member.

7. A table as set forth in claim 2, wherein said table top and said table base are elongated with the ends of said telescoping pedestal being anchored respectively to same so that said table top and base are substantially parallel and symmetrical to each other and with said pedestal being anchored to said table top and base at the junction of the elongated extending portions of both said table top and said base.

8. A table as set forth in claim 3, wherein said table top and said table base are elongated with the ends of said telescoping pedestal being anchored respectively to same so that said table top and base are substantially parallel and symmetrical to each other and with said pedestal being anchored to said table top and base at the junction of the elongated extending portions of both said table top and said base.

9. A table as set forth in claim 3, wherein said means for holding said latching means in latching engagement with said inwardly projecting means of said outer tubular member of said assembled pedestal is in the form of a coil spring with said fixed pivot extending lengthwise through said coil spring, and with the ends of the latter engaging the latching end portion of said pair of latch members to hold same in extended latching position.

it). In a table as set forth in claim 3, wherein said means for holding said latching means in latching engagement with said inwardly projecting means of said outer tubular member of said assembled pedestal is in the form of a coil spring with said fixed pivot extending lengthwise through said coil spring, and with the ends of the latter engaging the latching end portion of said pair of latch members to hold same in extended latching position, and wherein said table top and said table base are of extending angular V-shape with the ends of said telescoping pedestal being anchored respectively to same so that said table top and base are substantially parallel and symmetrical to each other and with said pedestal being anchored to sid table top and base at the junction of the extending end portions of both of same.

ii. A table comprising a top, a base, and a pedestal connecting said top to said base, said pedestal being of telescopic construction with inner and outer tubular members, one of said tubular members being anchored in fixed position to said top and the other of said tubular members being anchored in fixed position to said base, a latch means mounted a fixed distance from said top and on and within the lower portion of said inner tubular member and locking said top positively in a downward movement direction and releasably in an upward movement direction, said outer tubular member having two or more latch engageable means substantially diagonally opposite each other in position to be engaged by said latch means of said inner tubular member for holding said top in various elevated positions, means for guiding said inner and outer tubular members in a straight line path relative to each other, means for normally holding said latch means latched with said latch engageable means of said outer tubular member, latch operation means secured to said top, and means connecting to and actuated by said latch operation means extending through the upper portion of said inner tubular member in a non-contacting manner for releasably actuating said latch means.

12. A table as set forth in claim 11, wherein said table top and said table base are elongated with the ends of said telescoping pedestal being anchored respectively to same so that said table top and base are substantially parallel and somewhat symmetrical with each other.

13. A table as set forth in claim 11, wherein said means for normally holding said latch means latched with with said latch engageable portion of said outer tubular member is in the form of a spring means.

14. A table comprising a top, a base, and a pedestal connecting said top to said base, said pedestal being of telescopic construction with inner and outer tubular members, one of said tubular members being anchored in fixed position to said top and the other of said tubular members being anchored in fixed position to said base, a latch means mounted on and within the lower portion of said inner tubular member, said outer tubular member having means in position to be engaged by said latch means of said inner tubular member for holding said table top in various elevated positions, means for guiding said inner and outer tubular members in a straight line path relative to each other, means for normally holding said latch means latched with said latch engageable portion of said outer tubular member, means extending through the upper portion of said inner tubular member for releasably actuating said latch means, said means for normally holding said latch means latched with said latch engageable portion of said outer tubular member is in the form of a spring means, said table top and said table base are elongated and angular with the ends of said telescoping pedestal being anchored respectively to same so that said table top and base are substantially parallel and somewhat symmetrical with each other, and said base being under said table top in position to stabilize the latter through said pedestal.

15. A table comprising a top, a base, and a pedestal connecting said top to said base, said pedestal being of telescopic construction With substantially rectangular section inner and outer tubular means which closely but slidably fit one in the other, one of said tubular means being anchored in fixed position to said top and the other being anchored in fixed position to said base so that said top and base can move to and from each other when mounted on said pedestal, a latch means mounted a fixed distance from said top and on and within the lower portion of said inner tubular member and locking said top positively in a downward direction and releasably in an upward movement direction, said outer tubular member having latch engageable means substantially diagonally opposite each other in position to be engaged by said latch means of said inner tubular member for holding said table top in various elevated positions, means for normally holding said latch means latched with said latch engageable means of said outer tubular member, latch operation means secured to said top, and means connected to and actuated by said latch operation means extending through the upper portion of said inner tubular member in a non-contacting manner for releasably actuating said latch means.

16. A table as set forth in claim 15, wherein said latch means is in the form of latch bolts, and said means for holding said latch means latched is in the form of a compression spring means.

17. A table as set forth in claim 15, wherein said table top and said table base are elongated and angular with the ends of said telescoping pedestal being anchored respectively to same substantially at their midpoints so that said table top and table base are substantially parallel and generally symmetrical with said base being under said table top in position to stabilize the latter through said pedestal.

18. A table as set forth in claim 17, wherein said latch means is in the form of concentric latch bolts, and said means for holding said latch means latched isin the form of a compression spring means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 843,584 2/ 1907 Clark 108-146 965,113 7/1910 Konstantinides 10 8-63 2,016,132 10/ 1935 Bergslien 248-409 2,171,653 9/ 1939 Heitmann 248-409 2,649,345 8/ 1953 Hubbard 108-144 2,999,729 9/ 1961 Semmelroth 108-146 3,006,706 10/1961 Park et al 108-116 3,027,209 3/ 1962 Nielsen 108-146 FOREIGN PATENTS 776,290 10/1934 France.

810,179 8/ 1951 Germany.

565,820 11/ 1944 Great Britain.

608,452 9/ 1948 Great Britain.

935,958 9/1963 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TABLE COMPRISING A TOP, A BASE, AND A PEDESTAL CONNECTING SAID TOP TO SAID BASE, SAID PEDESTAL BEING OF TELESCOPIC CONSTRUCTION WITH INNER AND OUTER TUBULAR MEMBERS, ONE OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBERS BEING ANCHORED IN FIXED POSITION TO SAID TOP AND THE OTHER OF SAID TUBUALR MEMBERS BEING ANCHORED IN FIXED POSITION TO SAID BASE, A LATCH MEANS MOUNTED ON AND WITHIN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER, INWARDLY PROJECTING MEANS ON THE INNER SURFACE OF AND WHOLLY WITHIN SAID OUTER TUBULAR MEMBER IN POSITION TO BE ENGAGED BY SAID LATCH MEANS OF SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER FOR HOLDING SAID TABLE TOP IN VARIOUS ELEVATED POSITIONS AS WEL AS ROTATABLY FIXED RELATIVE TO SAID BASE, MEANS FOR NORMALLY HOLDING SAID LATCH MEANS LATCHED WITH SAID INWARDLY PROJECTING MEANS OF SAID OUTER TUBULAR MEMBER, AND MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER FOR RELEASABLY ACTUATING SAID LATCH MEANS. 